Bonnie Watson Passes Away At 82 – Details

Female wrestler Bonnie Watson-Schwartz, who wrestled as Bonnie Watson in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, passed away last night due to illness at the age of 82 (she turned 82 in June).

She was trained by Carol Carota, Dot Dotson and June Beyers after she joined Wolfe’s troupe. She was billed from Oklahoma and marketed for her strength. She was actually from West Virginia. She worked for promoter Billy Wolfe and traveled to Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico until she retired in 1971.

She was one half of the Canadian Women’s Tag Team champions with Penny Banner. She also retired with the Florida State Women’s championship and appeared in the 1975 movie The Wrestling Queen with Vivian Vachon. She occasionally performed under a mask as “Betty Co-Ed.”

She married referee Stu Schwartz. The two had four children and several grandchildren.

Les Thatcher said: “A dear friend, class lady and a REAL lady wrestler left us last night. Bonnie Watson was all these things and my heart and prayers go out to her husband Stu and family. All of us whose lives she touched are better for it. RIP.”